Article: What Size Artwork Works Best in an Office?
What Size Artwork Works Best in an Office?
Most people underestimate how large artwork needs to be in a commercial space.
I understand why. A 24x36 print sounds big when you are looking at the dimensions on a screen. Put it on a ten or twelve foot wall and it can suddenly look very small.
When I help someone choose work for an office, size is usually the first thing we solve.
Start with the width of the wall
I do not use a hard formula, but the artwork should feel related to the wall and the furniture around it.
If a piece is going above a console, credenza, or boardroom cabinet, it should have enough width that it feels anchored to the furniture instead of floating above it.
For large reception walls, boardrooms, and open commercial spaces, 40x60 can make far more sense than people expect.
24x36 works well when the room is doing some of the work
A framed 24x36 is substantial in a private office, smaller meeting room, hallway, or grouped installation.
It can also work beautifully in a larger room if there is furniture or architectural detail helping define the space.
This is why I use 24x36 for my Gallery Editions. It is large enough to feel like real wall art, but still practical for homes and offices where a 40x60 piece would dominate the room.
40x60 is a statement size
A 40x60 piece has a completely different presence.
At that scale you start to feel the landscape rather than simply look at it. Small details become part of the room. Mountain layers, aurora structure, texture in the snow and water all have room to breathe.
That is why I reserve 40x60 acrylic for my Master Collection. It works best on major walls where the piece is supposed to be one of the first things you notice.
Hallways and long walls can use a series
Not every space needs one oversized piece.
Long hallways, corridors, and collaborative areas can work well with two or three related photographs. I like keeping the frame style and print size consistent, then using the photographs to create rhythm as you move through the space.
A group of Alberta landscapes can work especially well for this because the locations can change while the overall visual language stays consistent.
Measure first
A phone photo and a tape measure can save a lot of guessing.
If you are unsure, send me a straight-on photograph of the wall and one known measurement. I can create a simple scale mockup so you can see how a 24x36 or 40x60 piece will actually sit in the room.
I would rather solve scale before the print is made.
Corporate art for Calgary offices and commercial spaces